Ezekiel-Chapter-12
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Ezekiel 12 is a chapter of symbolic action, prophetic
drama, and confrontation with denial. The exiles in
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Ezekiel
Chapter 12
Below are the verses of Ezekiel Chapter 12:1-28: Whilst below the verses are the Explanation’s. (Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
Verses 1-2: “The word of יְהוָה - the LORD also came unto me, saying: ‘Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house, that have eyes to see, and see not, that have ears to hear, and hear not; for they are a rebellious house.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim tells Ezekiel that he lives among a
people who “have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear”.
This describes not physical blindness or deafness, but willful refusal. The
people choose not to understand the warnings given to them.
Verses 3-4: Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for exile, and remove as though for exile by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight; it may be they will perceive, for they are a rebellious house. And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for exile; and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile.
Explanation: Ezekiel
is commanded to prepare an exile’s baggage, a small bundle of essential items,
and to display it publicly. This is a symbolic act meant to represent the
coming exile of
Verses 5-6: Dig
thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby. In
their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulder, and carry it forth in the
darkness; thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground; for I have
set thee for a sign unto the house of
Explanation: Ezekiel
must dig through a wall and exit with his belongings in the sight of the people.
This dramatizes the desperate escape attempts that will occur during the siege
of
Verse 7: And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for exile, and in the even I digged through the wall with my hand; I carried out in the darkness, and bore it upon my shoulder in their sight.
Explanation: Ezekiel
obeys exactly as instructed. His actions are not private; they are deliberately
visible, meant to provoke questions and force the people to confront the
meaning behind them.
Verses 8-9: And
in the morning came the word of יְהוָה
- the LORD
unto me, saying: ‘Son of man, hath not the house of
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim tells Ezekiel that the people are
asking, “What are you doing?” This question is the desired outcome,
the symbolic act has succeeded in drawing attention.
Verses 10-11: Say thou unto them: Thus saith אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim: Concerning the prince, even this burden, in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are, say: I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them-they shall go into exile, into captivity.
Explanation: Ezekiel
explains that the sign concerns the prince in
Verse 12: And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder, and go forth in the darkness; they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby; he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.
Explanation: The prince will attempt to escape at night, carrying his belongings, digging through a wall exactly as Ezekiel demonstrated. The prophecy is precise: the leader will try to flee secretly, but will not succeed.
Verse 13: My
net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken
in My snare; and I will bring him to
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim declares that a net will be spread over the prince, and he will be captured. He will be taken to a foreign land, yet he will not see it, a cryptic statement that implies blindness or a fate that prevents him from seeing the land of exile.
Verse 14: And I will disperse toward every wind all that are round about him to help him, and all his troops; and I will draw out the sword after them.
Explanation: The prince’s entourage, his guards and supporters will be scattered. This shows that political alliances and military strength will not save him.
Verse 15: And they shall know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.
Explanation: When this happens, the people will recognize that the events were not random but part of a Divine judgment. The purpose is not destruction for its own sake, but recognition and understanding.
Verse 16: But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the nations whither they come; and they shall know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD’.
Explanation: A
small remnant will survive the sword, famine, and pestilence. Their survival is
not for comfort but to bear witness among the nations to the moral corruption
that led to
Verses 17-18: Moreover the word of יְהוָה - the LORD came to me, saying: ‘Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with anxiety;
Explanation: Ezekiel is told to eat his food trembling and drink water in fear. This symbolizes the terror and instability that will accompany the siege, scarcity, anxiety, and the collapse of normal life.
Verse: 19: and
say unto the people of the land: Thus saith אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim concerning
the inhabitants of
Explanation: The message is directed to the people of the land: their cities will be emptied, and the land will become desolate because of the violence and injustice committed within it.
Verse 20: And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD’.
Explanation: The inhabited places will become ruins, and the land will be devastated. Again, the purpose is that the people will understand the cause-and-effect relationship between their actions and the consequences.
Verses 21-22: And the word of יְהוָה - the LORD came unto me,
saying: ‘Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in
the
Explanation: A popular saying is quoted: “The days are prolonged, and every vision fails”. This reflects the people’s belief that prophetic warnings are empty, that nothing ever happens, and therefore nothing will happen.
Verse 23: Tell
them therefore: Thus saith אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim: I will make
this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim instructs Ezekiel to declare that this proverb will be abolished. The time of delay is over; events will now unfold rapidly.
Verse 24: For
there shall be no more any vain vision nor smooth
divination within the house of
Explanation: False visions and flattering divinations will cease. The era of comforting illusions is ending.
Verse 25: For I am יְהוָה - the LORD; I will speak, what word soever it be that I shall speak, and it shall be performed; it shall be no more delayed; for in אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - your days, O rebellious house, will I speak the word, and will perform it, saith אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim’.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim asserts that His word will no longer be postponed. When He speaks, the matter will occur directly countering the belief that prophecy is vague or distant.
Verse 26-27: Again
the word of יְהוָה - the LORD came to me,
saying: ‘Son of man, behold, they of the house of
Explanation: Another saying is addressed: “His visions are for many days ahead; he prophesies of distant times.” This reflects the people’s strategy of dismissing Ezekiel by claiming his warnings are irrelevant to the present.
Verse 28: Therefore say unto them: Thus saith אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim: There shall none of My words be delayed any more, but the word which I shall speak shall be performed, saith אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim’.
Explanation: The final declaration: None of the Divine words will be delayed any longer. The events will occur in the lifetime of the hearers. The message is immediate, urgent, and final.
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My Closing Message:
Ezekiel 12 confronts a community trapped in denial. Through symbolic actions, vivid imagery, and direct speech, the chapter dismantles the belief that warnings can be ignored or postponed. It teaches that truth cannot be evaded by pretending it is distant, and that moral consequences eventually arrive, even when people convince themselves otherwise. Yet the chapter also contains a thread of purpose: the destruction is not senseless. It is meant to awaken ‘understanding’, to strip away ‘illusions’, and to prepare the ground for ‘renewal’. The remnant that survives will carry the truth forward, ensuring that the lessons of the past are not lost.
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